As part of its “Youth Empowerment” platform and with the aim to continuously contribute to social and economic development, Rawabi Holding Group kicked off the annual internship program in early June. The internship, which lasts two months, aims to develop the skills sets and the work ethics of university students and fresh graduates whilst increasing their chances for full-time employment post-graduation.

Unlike many programs, the recruitment process is a rigorous one: all applicants are required to submit their application through the online portal and attend a face to face interview, ensuring that the interns get a feel for real labor market competition. To get the word out, the internship opportunity is promoted on the Group’s official social media pages and by announcements through university partnerships. In return, the candidates are selected by undergoing a thorough evaluation process.

Once onboard, interns are treated as current employees and are offered the opportunity to lead and implement projects. Interns are hosted in different departments and subsidiaries based on their interest and aspirations under both peer mentors and intern managers including Human Resources, Finance, Legal, Corporate Communications, IT, and at business units such as Rawabi Electric and Rawabi United Safety Services.

What also makes this program a success is the spirit of volunteerism within the company and amongst the Rawabi Holding staff.

Mrs. Hanaa AlMoaibed, Group CSR Manager, points out: “these students will get to experience a real working environment by taking part in the companies’ activities. Through this program, interns gain training and exposure to the technical skills as well as soft skills necessary for success in the world of employment. They also get the chance to experience the pressure and stresses that come along with work. Lastly, this training program provides interns with the skills needed to achieve self-confidence.”

Priority for this training program is given to those graduates and students who need job training in order to graduate. AlMoaibed also added: “the work we do falls in line with the Kingdom’s aspirations and increasing Saudis’ chances for full-time employment post-graduation. This has been the reason behind our commitment and the creation of this internship program. We do not only provide training, we also evaluate their job performance during their training period. Likewise, we will consider hiring the most successful interns if everything fits into place and a position is available.”

Towards the end of the training program the interns will receive a certificate of participation presented by Sheikh Abdulaziz AlTurki and Mr. Osman Ibrahim, respectively Chairman and CEO of Rawabi Holding Group.

A highlight of Rawabi Holding’s CSR programs remains the Annual Rawabi Talent Exhibit which aims to empower youth by assisting them and providing them with the means and the tools for self-discovery. The purpose of the “Annual Talent Exhibit” is to allow students and youth (aged 16-24) to interact with experts in order to learn about available careers. The exhibit hosts motivational speakers who are prominent in the Saudi society.